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Britons on quarantined coronavirus ship: ‘At least it’s sunny’

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Britons isolated on a cruise ship in Japan have said they are trying to enjoy the sunshine as they contemplate two weeks in quarantine.

They are among around 3,700 passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess, which is being kept at the port city of Yokohama, about 25 miles from Tokyo.

An 80-year-old passenger from Hong Kong tested positive for coronavirus after sailing on the ship last month.

This led to the screening of all remaining passengers and crew, with a further 10 cases confirmed.

Passengers said they were being asked to stay in their cabins and that food was being delivered to them.

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Image: Passengers wearing face masks listen to the ship's band Pic: David Abel

David and Sally Abel, of Woodford Halse in Oxfordshire, were on the cruise to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Mr Abel, 74, told Sky News his main concern is his diabetes, as he needs more insulin which he would need to get from the ship's medic.

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But he added: "It's going to be an ordeal, but it'll be manageable. We are staying positive – to grumble about the situation wouldn't be the right thing to do at all.

David Abel and his wife are quarantined on board a cruise ship in Japan.

"The holiday was fantastic, and the crew are doing the right thing – they're trying to keep everybody safe.

"We are very lucky not to be in one of the inside cabins. Here, we have a balcony, we can have the door open, we've got the warmth of the sunshine and we've got fresh air."

Mr Abel said the situation had "changed dramatically overnight", adding that an intercom announcement at 6.30am had told passengers they could not leave their cabins for any reason.

He added: "We've got friends on board who are really struggling though, because they're smokers. The captain announced everyone was banned from smoking in cabins and on balconies, and our friends are tearing their hair out!"

He said most of the passengers are Japanese but, along with a few other Britons, there are also Americans, Canadians and other nationalities.

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Alan, from Eastwood in Nottinghamshire, is on board the cruise with his wife and praised the ship's crew for "doing their best under very difficult circumstances".

He told Sky News: "If we are confined to aRead More – Source

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